VONNE

Project Aims

The Policy and Representation Partnership was set up in July 2009 with the aim of helping the voluntary and community sector to influence public policy. The partnership does this in a number of ways: through quarterly policy forum events, training sessions, researching policy areas and sharing information. The Partnership is funded by the big Lottery Fund until June 2013.

Call for Applications

Each year the Partnership chooses six policy topics which are affecting the sector to be examined through research, gathering the sector's views and producing a policy paper which is shared with statutory policy-makers.Each year six policy topics, concerning issues affecting the sector, are examined through research and consultations. Policy papers are produced and shared with policy-makers. By the end of the project, 24 different policy topics will have been examined.

The Partnership has been successful in securing additional funding to allow us to continue our work for a further year. We are therefore seeking detailed proposals which cover the policy themes listed below and that will be related to the development of public policies or practices in the North East. It is expected that proposals will clearly demonstrate the difference that the proposed work will have on that particular policy area and take into consideration equalities issues.

Further information can be found in the Call for Expression of Interest (Pdf 125 kB). Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 25th May 2012.

Our work:

• A quarterly Policy Forum which brings together those with an interest in policy development in the sector. These meetings are used to discuss parliamentary processes, hear from policy makers and debate emerging issues.
• Each year six policy topics which are affecting the sector are examined and researched and the findings shared with statutory policy makers. Briefings and policy papers are regularly produced to keep the sector abreast of changes.
• Consultations are regularly held with the sector to disseminate information and gather views and opinions on policy issues.
• A Communications Network has been established, through this streamlined methods of communication will be developed to cascade information to the sector widely and allow a two-way flow to enable effective representation.
• A page has been developed providing details of support tools available to help you influence policy

Achievements:

In March 2012, the Partnership carried out a review of its successes (Pdf 536 kB). This document gives a summary of our work and achievements to date:

• 26 briefings produced around our policy topics
  
• 71 people have benefited from training we have delivered
• Over 100 of our members have now joined VONNE's ebulletin distribution
• 320 people are now on our mailing list
• 950 people and 420 organisations have been involved in consultation events to date
• Over 5000 people receive information through Partner Communication Channels

Influence:

In our third, from 1st July 2011, the Partnership will focus on the following policy topics;

• Adult Social Care in BME Communities
• BME Children and Young People in Care
• Meeting the Housing Related Support Needs for Homeless People in the North East
• NHS Reforms: the Winner and Losers in the VCS
• Net Assets - Using Social Media to raise the Voice of Young People in the North East
• Falling through the Cracks - Impact of Welfare Reforms on people with Learning Disabilities

Details about the influence previous years projects have had can be found on the Policy Topics Page

Who we are

Voluntary Organisations’ Network North East (VONNE) is the accountable body and lead organisation for the Policy and Representation Partnership, which received three years funding from the Big Lottery Fund in July 2009. Current partners include; Black Minority Ethnic Community Organisations Network, Community Alliance North East, Community Development North East, Community Work Assessment Consortium North East England, Equalities North East, Funding Information North East, Locality, Mental Health North East, North East Volunteering Infrastructure and Northumbria University.